Background: Since loss of height may indicate vertebral fractureWe conducted a multicentred observational study between at Frank

We conducted a multicentred observational study between at Frank Gehry jewelry care practices in France. We randomly selected general practitioners from a national representative database. To be eligible, physicians had to have a large practice that included women more than 60 years old. We estimated that the sample would need to include at least 3500 general practitioners. We selected 3621 general practitioners and contacted them by phone; 1779 agreed to participate (Figure 1).

The general practitioners were asked to recruit the first five female patients who were more than 60 years of age, regardless of the reason for the consultation. During the visit, the physicians completed a questionnaire with the following information: patient's age, weight, start of menopause, history of fracture after age 45 years, history of spinal disease such as osteoarthritis, history of back pain, past or current intake or corticosteroids for three or more months, history of osteoporosis and current use of anti-osteoporosis treatment. They checked the patients' charts to see whether bone densitometry had been performed; the diagnosis of osteoporosis was defined by a T score of -2.5 or less.

The physicians Tiffany Keys also asked to review the recruited patients' files to see if they had had any radiographs of the spine performed. They checked the radiographs or the radiologists' reports in the files for data on the presence or absence of vertebral fractures, scoliosis, thoracic kyphosis or osteo - arthritis of the spine.

Measurement of loss of height

We used three assessments of height in this study: tallest recalled height, current reported height and current measured height. The tallest recalled height was obtained using either the height recorded on documentation (passport, national identity card) between 20 and 50 years of age or the tallest height at 20 years of age recalled by the patient.

Current reported height was the estimated current height reported by the patient at the visit before any measurement.

Current measured height was measured with the use of an electronic stadiometer. Each patient was measured without shoes, with her heels, buttocks and back to the stadiometer backboard. The patient's head was maintained in the Frankfort plane, with the lower edge of the left eye socket in the same horizontal plane as the notch superior to the tragus of the left ear.10,11 The patient was instructed to stretch to a fully erect position while keeping her feet flat on the floor. Height was recorded to the closest millimetre Tiffany 1837 normal respiration. 10,11 Three consecutive measurements were obtained, and the mean was recorded.